It’s still early in the recruiting process for 2016 quarterback Brandon McIlwain, but he’s already on the radar for many major programs. That radar includes Penn State’s, where the high school sophomore has already camped at and attended last Saturday’s game against Purdue.

The Council Rock North dual-threat quarterback completed 105-of-190 passing attempts this season for 1,446 yards. He passed for 11 touchdowns and threw nine interceptions, but also carried the ball 104 times for 594 yards and added 10 touchdowns on the ground. As soon as defensive coordinator John Butler spotted McIlwain on the sideline before Saturday’s game, Butler grinned just looking at the prospect.

“I’ve talked to John Butler before and I’ll call him every so often because he just wants to know how my season is going and just to check in and stuff like that,” McIlwain said. “It was important for me to be able to get up there last week so I could talk to the coaches, see the team play and just get a feel for that atmosphere too.”

The thought of a dual-threat quarterback running Bill O’Brien’s pro-style offense at Penn State is unlikely, but McIlwain is a totally different type of prospect. It was his arm strength that initially caught the eye of many coaching staffs, particularly his ability to launch the ball 56 yards, a benchmark he’s hit since he was a strong armed 13 year old. Yes, there are even middle school highlights of him readily available from his playing days as a young standout before the family moved back to Pennsylvania from California.

He started at Council Rock North since his freshman year and is also a standout baseball player. He's regarded as a future major league prospect and started on the varsity team as a freshman at second base. He's also a pitcher, just another detail that adds to his strong right arm, one that he hopes to use to excel as a collegiate quarterback.

That arm strength the 6-foot-1,195-pounder possesses continues to improve and he’s just 15 years old. He’s also wise enough to understand that the negative connotations that usually follow dual-threat quarterbacks don’t accurately describe his abilities.

“I definitely see myself as more of a pocket passer that can run and make plays with my feet if needed,” he said. “Just seeing coach O’Brien and the guys they have I know that he can do anything with any quarterback.”

The sophomore already has a scholarship offer from Temple and is also being heavily recruited by South Carolina and Rutgers. For now he would like to check out UCLA and Duke and plans to attend camp at Penn State again. When it comes time to start seeking additional advice on the recruiting process he can reach out to his cousin, former Penn State standout Aaron Maybin, if he so chooses.

“At this point there are a lot of schools interested in me so I want them to also be good schools academically too,” he said. “Whatever schools are interested in me I’m pretty much interested in them too right now.”